[cmiller219]

First BMW and so far loving it. I picked up a 2016 MGM with black BLK Dakota Leather. I am coming from years of Subaru ownership. 04,09,2011, and just sold my 2014. I already enjoy sitting in the 235 much better. I haven't really gotten into it yet but can tell it pulls harder then a stock-Stage 2 STi. I am very particular and have OCD so I do tons of research before I buy parts/mods. I enjoy reading and learning before asking stupid questions that have prob been answered a hundred times lol. I have a few small things in mind so far but no rush. Just want to enjoy the car for now. Here are a couple pictures of the most recent STi i parted out and sold. I will post some photos when I get time to get out the nice camera and weather lets up. I am located in Hawaii on Oahu.

[B_Rice]

Congrats and welcome to the club! Did you stick with the 6spd?

[mike@x-ph.com]

Congrats!

[cmiller219]

No I did not go with a 6 speed manual. Honestly if I was mainland I would have but there is sooooo much traffic here its annoying. That was one of my pros on the pro/con list. I live 7 miles from work. On a good day that's a 35 min drive. Bad day up to 2 hours.


Right now I am selling parts left and right from the STi. I am about to order all black kidneys not sure if gloss or flat black yet leaning toward gloss though. Also listening to sound clips of cat backs to purchase. I need to make an appointment to have tint done as well.

I know I am new and some people may be hesitant to sell parts to me off here so I hope that I can build the trust I have over on NASIOC (Subaru forum) and can purchase some used parts from other members.

[pimp4cheddar]

Sweet STI! Looks like it was scraping grass lol

I went with the 8spd and don't regret it. Feared I might...but it's a great transmission when you get on it.

Congrats and welcome.

[xantdieselx]

Former Subi owner also (04' WRX) congrats and enjoy the new ride. Post some pics please.

[cmiller219]

Originally Posted by pimp4cheddar

Sweet STI! Looks like it was scraping grass lol

I went with the 8spd and don't regret it. Feared I might...but it's a great transmission when you get on it.

Congrats and welcome.

Thanks.So far the 8spd is so smooth to me. The STi was bagged so that was aired out.

Originally Posted by xantdieselx

Former Subi owner also (04' WRX) congrats and enjoy the new ride. Post some pics please.

Awesome. I plan on getting out the next couple days and taking some nice photos. Studying for a big test on the 20th.

[krillnasty]

Congrats! I just picked up my new MG with Black Dakota. I'll make a thread as soon as I'm able

[Nashvillain]

Congrats! I hope to join your ranks soon!

[firstone]

Which tires did your car come with? I just ordered a 235i for ED with non-run flat summer tires. The dealer was non-comital about which brand of tires it will come with. Hoping I end up with the Michelins.

[MBimmer]

I just traded in my Subie(13 WRX Hatch) for a M235i too! I have to agree the cabin is much nicer to be in.

[cmiller219]

Originally Posted by firstone

Which tires did your car come with? I just ordered a 235i for ED with non-run flat summer tires. The dealer was non-comital about which brand of tires it will come with. Hoping I end up with the Michelins.

It has Michelin Pilot super sports Non run flat. 225/40 front and 245/35 rear. Im a little confused as to why the hell BMW decided to go with 2 different sidewall heights though

[cmiller219]

Any catback suggestions? gosh the sound clips art very good. I want it to be very aggressive in the sport modes but close to normal i comfort or less. Was looking at Fabspeed but not sure its aggressive enough. Budget $1200 or less.

[Tpeterson]

Originally Posted by cmiller219

It has Michelin Pilot super sports Non run flat. 225/40 front and 245/35 rear. Im a little confused as to why the hell BMW decided to go with 2 different sidewall heights though

With the staggered fitment ,it keeps the tire/wheel diameters the same front to rear.Though in this case the rear is slightly shorter. A 255/35 rear tire would be exactly the same height as the front. With that and more tread width , I might consider it for a replacement tire.

[cmiller219]

Originally Posted by Tpeterson

With the staggered fitment ,it keeps the tire/wheel diameters the same front to rear.Though in this case the rear is slightly shorter. A 255/35 rear tire would be exactly the same height as the front. With that and more tread width , I might consider it for a replacement tire.

When I get my aftermarket wheels I will have the same sidewalls. I understand it now that you say it but still really not necessary I feel. Looks funny though

[Tpeterson]

Originally Posted by cmiller219

When I get my aftermarket wheels I will have the same sidewalls. I understand it now that you say it but still really not necessary I feel. Looks funny though

If the diameters are off by more than 3%,or so I've heard,any speed sensors will send inaccurate readings to the ECU.You don't want that. Modern cars are mostly controlled by electronics.

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by cmiller219

Any catback suggestions? gosh the sound clips art very good. I want it to be very aggressive in the sport modes but close to normal i comfort or less. Was looking at Fabspeed but not sure its aggressive enough. Budget $1200 or less.

Ex-2012 WRX owner here (got my M235 6MT in February). I too made back about $2,000 of the $3,500 originally spent on mods for the WRX and it was crazy how quickly I was able to sell everything. I really don't miss my WRX at all, especially the seats and the powerband (I only had a Stage 1 tune).

Get glass black grills for your M235.

Given what you're looking for in an exhaust, I'd go with the M-Performance exhaust. I got mine from Sun Motors BMW for $950 shipped with the M-Performance chrome 3.25" tips. If you just want the exhaust and to use the OEM tips, the MPE exhaust is $780. The car sounds so healthy running through the gears (a smooth aggressive and throaty warble and lots of turbo spool sound and wastegate hissing under heavy throttle), awesome overrun popping in neutral revs and gearing down in 1st and 2nd. Very docile with the window up at a cruise. Never intrusive. Never any drone. Most importantly, it's cheap by BMW exhaust prices and it still utilizes the exhaust flap. Did I mention the popcorn

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by cmiller219

When I get my aftermarket wheels I will have the same sidewalls. I understand it now that you say it but still really not necessary I feel. Looks funny though

It's really not that big of a deal and lots of RWD performance cars (and even certain AWD ones) use slightly taller rear tires. It's just the nature of tire aspect ratios and the need by the automaker to run a wider rear tire. A few tenths of an inch here and there isn't going to cause an issue on a 2WD car, much less be visually perceivable when the front and rear tires are separated by feet of distance.

I would prefer to run a square setup, but the front suspension and fender clearance poses an issue to running wider front tires. I easily fit 18X8.5 rims with 235/40 PSS's on my WRX with tons of room. It ain't happening on the front axle of an M235 without some very careful planning with respect to offset, tire make, and likely camber adjustment (which requires camber plates or OEM M3/M4 LCAs).

[rjroch]

Man, lots of people went WRX->M235i, it seems.

I certainly don't miss any part of my 2011 WRX, other than the hatch's cargo space extremely intermittently. Thanks for the reminder that I still need to sell the WRX's aluminum skid plate!

[cmiller219]

XutvJet

This seems to be the exhaust a lot of people go with. I wonder how it sounds with the 8speed. I want my presence known when I get on it you know. Maybe I am just stuck on the aggressiveness of the Subaru sound idk.

Also Gloss black kidneys were ordered yesterday lol

[doveer]

Wow, is the M235 really quicker stock than a stage 2 STI?

[cmiller219]

Actually a little faster. Stage 2 is just a turbo back exhaust and reflash for a Subaru. I just ran my buddy a week ago 30-85ish he has turbo back, intake, EBCS, fmic, and a couple bs parts dyno tuned at 317awp and I jumped a fender on him from the start and then we stayed the same no one pulled on the other dead even.

Just a stage 2 OTS tune will put a STi around 285-295awhp depending on so many variables